Esther "Smokey" Holmes

HOLMES (WOODS), ESTHER "SMOKEY"
After a long illness, Esther Woods Holmes passed away in her sleep January 23, 2014, in Austin, Texas, with her daughter Susan at her side. Esther Frieda Bellmer was born on November 15, 1918, in Petoskey, Michigan, to parents George Seth Bellmer and Frieda Christina Kuebler. A sixty-year resident of the city she loved, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Smokey's positive contributions to the community were numerous and life-long. She was a Girl Scout leader, a twenty year Red Cross volunteer, a church school teacher, a hospice family and hospice services volunteer. She also opened her home to University of Michigan international students and to families of those hospitalized at University Hospital. Smokey's volunteer work also included serving meals and providing health care services to the inner city populations of Ann Arbor and Detroit. First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor was an important part of Smokey's life for over fifty years, including twelve years that she served as a Deacon. Smokey was a member of the Ann Arbor City Club, the Presbyterian Women's Association, Waterman Alumnae Group, and a volunteer at the Thrift Shop. During the Second World War, Smokey completed her registered nurse training at Michigan State University's Sparrow Hospital program before being commissioned as a US Navy nurse with the rank of Ensign. It was in this capacity that she met her future husband, Wilder Wilson Woods, USN Lt. Commander, at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital where he was recovering from combat wounds. They were married in 1945. She was on the University of Michigan medical staff fourteen years; and prior to that, was a Visiting Nurse. Smokey was also recognized for twenty years of volunteer service to the Red Cross. Smokey is survived by her sister, Emma "Sue" Malter of Portland, Oregon. She was predeceased by two brothers, George and Carl; and two sisters Mildred and Alice Pittard. One of Smokey's greatest pleasures was her role as a wife and mother. She and Wilder (known to most as "Woody") had two children, Susan Esther Thomas of Austin, Texas, and Wilder "Bill" Wilson (Nancy) Woods Jr. of Kalamazoo, MI. Smokey had five grandchildren including: Caroline Thomas of Houston, Tim Thomas of Austin, who with his wife Julie has two daughters, Stella and Etta; Katherine Simpson of Houston who with her husband Ryan, has a son Peter; Christine Alderman of Humble, TX, who with her husband Brian, has a daughter Olivia; and Jackson (Mandi) Woods of Arlington, VA, and many nieces and nephews. Woody died in 1977. Several years later, a long-time acquaintance and fellow church member began making a habit of walking past Smokey's house. It soon became obvious that the gentleman was interested in more than taking a walk. John H. Holmes, Sr., had become a widower a few years earlier. He and Smokey began dating, fell in love, and married in 1986. They were blessed with a joy-filled marriage and shared many travel adventures together until John's death in 1996. Smokey was an accomplished bridge player, avid reader, and worked on a number of local political campaigns. In Austin, she learned to play mahjong and made new friends. Through both marriages and as a single person, Smokey was a faithful University of Michigan fan, attending nearly all home football games and many basketball games as well. She was always quick to note, however, that a piece of her heart belonged to Michigan State University. A military service will be held later this year at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where Smokey will be interred at the side of her husband, Wilder. A service of remembrance will be held at Hope in the City church in Austin, Smokey's daughter's church, at 1:00 on February 2. Although this church never took the place of First Presbyterian in Ann Arbor, Michigan, there are those at Hope in the City who loved Smokey. Contributions in lieu of flowers should be made to: Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Rd., Austin, Texas 78759 or First Presbyterian Church, 1432 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104